Digital imaging facilities for micropalaeontology
Syracosphaera anthos coccosphere from the Western Mediterranean. False coloured to show the shell is formed of inner and outer layers of coccoliths with very different structure.
In addition to the Analysis and Imaging Facility at the Natural History Museum, the Palaeontology Department has its own extensive facilities and techniques for digital imaging.
We actively use these for a wide range of research projects, collection illustrations, and CD-ROM and online databases.
Transmitted light imaging
We have a range of dedicated image capture facilities for calcareous nannofossil and palynology specimens:
- Polaroid digital microscope camera plus Leica DMRX microscope with digital interference contrast (DIC), phase contrast and epiflourescence
- Hamamatsu charge-coupled device (CCD) camera plus Zeiss Axioplan microscope with crossed-polars, phase contrast and DIC
- Canon PowerShot imaging system plus Zeiss Axioskop microscope with DIC
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Fully focused colour composite images
For several years, micropalaeontologists in the Palaeontology Department have been investigating and developing techniques that employ digital images to overcome the limitations of light micrographs. Learn about these techniques and their benefits.
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Confocal laser scanning microscopy
Confocal laser scanning microscopy is an exciting alternative to conventional light microscopy and electron microscopy for the imaging of palynological specimens. Find out how it works.